DJ & Show Host Guide | VibesNearby Radio

🎙️ How VibesNearby Radio Works

VibesNearby is Connecticut's 24/7 internet radio station and music magazine. Shows air on a fixed weekly schedule — each DJ or host owns a recurring time slot and is responsible for programming, content, and delivery.

01

You Get a Weekly Time Slot

Your show airs at the same day and time every week. Slots are typically 1–2 hours. Your slot appears on the public schedule page and on your DJ profile automatically.

02

You Program the Content

You choose the music, guests, topics, and flow. We give you the platform — you bring the personality and the sound. Consistency is everything in radio.

03

You Submit or Stream Live

Shows can be pre-recorded mixes submitted ahead of time, or broadcast live via our streaming setup. Talk to the team about which format fits your show.

04

We Handle Distribution

Your show is streamed to listeners 24/7, promoted on the website, and featured on your DJ profile page. Sponsored shows also get pre/mid-roll ads injected automatically.

💡 New to radio? Start with a 60-minute pre-recorded mix format. It lets you perfect the flow offline before going live. Once you're comfortable with the rhythm and pacing, you can move to live shows.

⏱️ Show Structure

Every great radio show follows a structure. Here's a proven template for a 60-minute slot. Scale up proportionally for 90 or 120-minute shows.

0:00 – 0:05

Intro / ID

Station ID, your name, show name, and a quick tease of what's coming. Keep it tight — under 60 seconds ideally. Energy matters here.

0:05 – 0:20

Opening Set — High Energy

Hook listeners in the first 15 minutes. Play 3–4 of your strongest tracks. This is what keeps people from clicking away.

0:20 – 0:25

Mid-Show Break / Sponsor

Talk break, shoutouts, or sponsor read if applicable. Brief — 1–2 minutes max unless it's an interview segment.

0:25 – 0:50

Main Block

The core of your show. Mix in new releases, deep cuts, or featured artist spotlight. This is where your programming identity shines.

0:50 – 0:58

Closing Set

Wind down or build to a peak — depends on your genre. Tease next week's show.

0:58 – 1:00

Outro / Station ID

"You've been listening to [show name] on VibesNearby Radio — tune in next [day] at [time]." Hard out at the top of the hour.

Show Formats

Format	Best For	Length
Mix Show	DJs, club music, EDM, hip-hop	60–120 min
Talk + Music	Industry hosts, interviews	30–60 min
Artist Spotlight	Feature shows, deep dives	45–60 min
Genre Hour	R&B, jazz, reggae, gospel	60 min
Live Interview	Guest shows, Q&A	30–60 min

💡 Consistency tip: Pick one format and own it. Listeners tune in every week because they know what to expect. Don't reinvent the show every week — refine it.

🎵 Music Programming Tips

Good programming is the difference between a show people skip and one they set reminders for. Here are the principles that make radio work.

🔥 Open Strong

Your first 3 tracks decide if someone stays or leaves. Open with something familiar and high-energy, then introduce your deeper cuts once you've earned the listener's trust.

📈 Manage Energy Curves

Don't play 12 bangers in a row — listeners fatigue. Build peaks and valleys. High energy → brief dip → rebuild. This is how DJ sets create emotional impact.

🗓️ Balance New vs. Familiar

A 70/30 split works well — 70% familiar or genre-appropriate tracks, 30% new or unexpected picks. Too much unfamiliar music loses casual listeners; too little loses the core fans.

🎯 Know Your Audience

VibesNearby serves Connecticut music fans — local artists, Northeast scenes, and music culture. Reference local events, CT artists, and community stories whenever you can.

🔄 Vary the BPM

Even in a single-genre show, vary tempo. Fast → medium → fast creates natural breathing room without changing the mood. Monotone BPM = listener fatigue.

📅 Theme Your Shows

Give each episode a loose theme — "summer anthems," "throwback Thursday," "CT artist spotlight." Themes give listeners a reason to tune in to THIS episode specifically.

⚠️ Common mistake: Treating your radio show like a personal playlist. Radio programming is audience-first — you're curating for listeners, not just playing what YOU feel like. The best DJs strike a balance between personal taste and audience awareness.

✅ Station Rules & Standards

To keep VibesNearby professional and consistent for all listeners, all hosts must follow these standards.

✅ Do

Identify yourself and the station at least once per 30 minutes
Submit your show or stream in on time, every week
Keep talk breaks focused and intentional — respect listener time
Notify us at least 48 hours ahead if you need to miss your slot
Feature Connecticut and Northeast artists whenever possible
Maintain consistent show branding (name, format, energy)
Provide a show description and tracklist when possible

✗ Don't

Play explicit content without prior approval from the team
Ghost your slot — no-shows without notice affect all listeners
Promote competing radio platforms or networks on air
Offer paid sponsorship or ad reads without going through the team
Use the platform to share personal grievances or drama
Stream copyrighted content outside our licensed agreements
Change your show format without checking in with us first

📞 Need help or have a conflict? Contact us through the contact page at least 48 hours before your slot. We'll work with you.

💼 Monetization & Sponsorship

Your show can generate real revenue — for VibesNearby and for you. Here's exactly how the money works, what you earn per slot, and what each sponsorship package includes.

Per 30-Min Ad Slot

$75–$150

Pre-roll or mid-roll spot rate for a sponsored 30-min show block

Per 60-Min Show

$150–$300

Full hour with pre + mid-roll ads from an active sponsor

Monthly (Weekly Show)

$600–$1,200

Recurring sponsored weekly 60-min show, 4 episodes/month

Host Revenue Share

30–50%

Of net sponsor revenue after platform costs — negotiated per host

Ad Slot Rate Card

Ad Type	Slot Length	When It Airs	Rate / Episode	Best For
Pre-Roll	30 seconds	Before your show starts	$50 – $100	Brand awareness, local businesses
Mid-Roll	30–60 seconds	~30 min into the show	$75 – $150	Highest engagement — listeners are locked in
Post-Roll	30 seconds	End of show	$25 – $50	Calls to action, events, promos
Show Sponsor	Full show	Pre + mid + post + ID mention	$150 – $300	Brand owns the episode — max exposure
Live Host Read	60–90 seconds	Host-delivered, natural placement	$100 – $200	Conversational brands, high-trust products

Monthly Earnings Calculator

Example: a weekly 60-min sponsored show with one pre-roll + one mid-roll, at a 40% host revenue share.

Pre-roll rate × 4 episodes$100 × 4 = $400

Mid-roll rate × 4 episodes$125 × 4 = $500

Gross sponsor revenue$900 / month

Platform fee (60%)− $540

Your 40% host share$360 / month

Rates and revenue share vary by show size, audience, and sponsor relationship. This is an illustrative example — your actual earnings are negotiated with the team.

📬 Want a Show on VibesNearby?

We're always looking for passionate DJs and hosts who bring something authentic to Connecticut's music scene. Here's how to pitch your show.

01

Prepare a Demo Mix

Record a 30–60 minute sample of your show format. It doesn't have to be perfect — we want to hear your voice, your curation style, and your energy.

02

Write a Show Description

In 2–3 sentences: What is your show? Who is it for? What makes it different? Simple and clear beats fancy and vague every time.

03

Send It In

Submit your demo and description via our contact page. Include your preferred day/time slot and whether you'd prefer live or pre-recorded.

04

We'll Be in Touch

We review all submissions within 5–7 business days. If it's a fit, we'll schedule an onboarding call to get you set up on the schedule.

🎧

Ready to pitch your show?

We're building something real for Connecticut music. If you have a voice and a vision, we want to hear it.

Contact Us to Submit →